Sample collection system including sealing cap and valve

Abstract

A biological sample collection system includes: a sample collection vessel having a sample collection chamber for receiving a biological sample; a sealing cap including a reagent chamber for storing a sample preservation reagent and being configured to associate with the sample collection vessel; and a selectively movable valve at least partially disposed within the sealing cap. The selectively movable valve includes a post with an interior chamber and fluid vent and a valve head associated with a distal portion of the post that initially occludes the fluid vent when the valve is in the closed configuration. Associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel causes a physical rearrangement of the post and the valve head in order for the fluid vent to become unoccluded by the valve head, thereby placing the valve in an open configuration and allowing fluid communication between the reagent chamber and the sample collection vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biological sample collection system, comprising:
 a sample collection vessel, the sample collection vessel comprising a sample collection chamber and an opening to receive a biological sample into the sample collection chamber;   a valve configured to at least partially associate with the opening of the sample collection vessel, the valve comprising:
 a post having a hollow body and a fluid vent through a sidewall thereof; and 
 a valve head associated with a distal portion of the post and being moveable between a closed configuration in which the fluid vent of the post is occluded by the valve head and an open configuration in which the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head; and 
   a sealing cap configured to associate with the valve and with the sample collection vessel, the sealing cap comprising a reagent chamber for storing a sample preservation reagent, the reagent chamber being in fluid communication with the hollow body of the post,   wherein associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel causes a physical rearrangement of the post and the valve head such that the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head, thereby allowing fluid communication between the reagent chamber and the sample collection vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve head further comprises an aperture and wherein the physical rearrangement comprises a rotational rearrangement between the post and the valve head in order for the aperture to at least partially align with the fluid vent, thereby placing the valve head in the open configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample collection vessel further comprises a connection member, and wherein the sealing cap further comprises a complementary connection member configured to associate with the connection member of the sample collection vessel to couple the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 3 , wherein the connection member and the complementary connection member each comprise threads. 
     
     
         5 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 4 , wherein the threads of the connection member are disposed on an outer surface of the sample collection vessel and the threads of the complementary connection member are disposed on an inner surface of the sealing cap. 
     
     
         6 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample collection system comprises a separable two-piece sample collection system, the sample collection vessel comprising a first piece of the separable two-piece sample collection system, and the selectively movable valve associated with the sealing cap comprising a second piece of the separable two-piece sample collection system. 
     
     
         7 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the post comprises a retaining ring configured to associate with a protrusion within an interior portion of the sealing cap, and wherein an association of the retaining ring and the protrusion creates a fluid-tight connection between the post and the sealing cap. 
     
     
         8 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the post or the valve head comprises an annular retention element configured to maintain a tight association between the post and valve head. 
     
     
         9 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve head comprises an upper collar disposed proximal of the sidewall portion defining the fluid vent. 
     
     
         10 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a funnel attachable to the sample collection vessel at the opening and configured to assist in placing a biological sample through the opening and into the sample collection chamber. 
     
     
         11 . A method for collecting and preserving a biological sample, comprising:
 providing or obtaining the biological sample collection system of  claim 1 ;   receiving a biological sample through the opening of the sample collection vessel and into the sample collection chamber; and   associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel to cause the valve associated with the sealing cap to be in an open configuration, thereby releasing sample preservation reagent held within the sealing cap into the sample collection chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the biological sample through the opening of a sample collection vessel includes initially receiving the biological sample through a funnel associated with the sample collection vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel comprises threadedly engaging a connection member disposed on an exterior surface of the sample collection vessel with a complementary connection member disposed on an interior surface of the sealing cap. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel causes a physical rearrangement of the post and the valve head such that the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head, thereby establishing fluid communication between the reagent chamber and the sample collection vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for collecting and preserving a biological sample, comprising:
 a sample collection vessel comprising a sample collection chamber, an opening to receive a biological sample into the sample collection chamber, and a connection member disposed on an exterior portion the sample collection vessel;   a sealing cap comprising a reagent chamber with a sample preservation reagent therein and a complementary connection member configured to engage the connection member of the sample collection vessel; and   a valve coupled to the sealing cap and configured to associate with the sample collection vessel, the valve comprising:
 a post defining a fluid vent at a distal portion thereof; and 
 a valve head associated with a distal portion of the post and being moveable between a closed configuration in which the fluid vent of the post is occluded by the valve head and an open configuration in which the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head, 
   wherein associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel causes a physical rearrangement of the post and the valve head such that the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head, thereby allowing fluid communication between the reagent chamber and the sample collection vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a funnel configured to associate with the sample collection vessel and to guide a biological sample from a user into the sample collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A biological sample collection system, the system comprising:
 a sample collection vessel comprising a sample collection chamber, an interior sidewall, and an opening configured to receive a biological sample into the sample collection chamber, the opening being defined by a rim of the sample collection vessel;   a sealing cap configured to associate with the sample collection vessel, the sealing cap comprising a reagent chamber and a valve, the reagent chamber configured to store a preservation reagent therein, the valve having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the valve comprising:
 a post comprising a hollow body in fluid communication with the reagent chamber of the sealing cap and a fluid vent through a sidewall of the hollow body, and 
 a valve head associated with a distal portion of the post and being moveable between a closed position in which the fluid vent of the post is occluded by the valve head and an open position in which the fluid vent is unoccluded by the valve head, 
 wherein the valve head is in the closed configuration before associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel, 
 wherein the valve head is configured to be movable to the open configuration in response to the sealing cap being secured to the sample collection vessel, 
 wherein, in the open configuration, the fluid vent of the post is unoccluded by the valve head, thereby allowing the preservation reagent to flow from the reagent chamber into the sample collection chamber. 
   
     
     
         18 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 17 , wherein the sample collection vessel further comprises a connection member, and wherein the sealing cap further comprises a complementary connection member configured to associate with the connection member of the sample collection vessel to couple the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 18 , wherein the connection member and the complementary connection member each comprise threads. 
     
     
         20 . The biological sample collection system of  claim 19 , wherein the threads of the connection member are disposed on an outer surface of the sample collection vessel and the threads of the complementary connection member are disposed on an inner surface of the sealing cap.